She spotted her dad mowing the yard and beelined straight for the all-glass door. Crawling as fast as her little legs could carry her, she pressed her tiny hands against the glass just to watch him. Spinners didn’t stand a chance that day. Cue me melting into a puddle and scrambling to grab my camera … More Dad’s Lil Duty Supervisor

Whew. I crammed every ounce of spare time I had into designing these cool bag tags for my nephews’ baseball bags. They weren’t perfect, but between wrangling Alice, making dinner, and tending to our queen senior kitty, it was a whole lot of start-and-stop over two days. Of course, I ran into filament clogs in … More Planning Ahead Still Isn’t Enough Sometimes

We don’t have a dining room table in our house. Not because we can’t get one, but because we don’t want one. Most of our meals are eaten on the floor, together as a family. We also use floor beds. That might sound a little unconventional, but for us, it’s intentional. Getting up and down … More Motion Is Lotion: Why We Choose to Keep Moving

Breastfeeding is often portrayed as a natural and rewarding experience, and it certainly can be, but it also comes with its own set of challenges and unexpected learning curves. Here’s a real and raw look at my breastfeeding journey with Alice, what I’ve learned, and what you might expect if you’re in the thick of … More Navigating the Breastfeeding Journey: My Honest Take on the Pros, Cons, and Everything in Between

I’ve always wanted to channel my inner florist. You know, casually snip stems, tilt my head, and say things like “It needs more texture.” So when we did Alice’s 9-month photos for May, Brett grabbed me two Trader Joe’s bouquets, after Alice’s photo shoot I lived my best flower-arranging fantasy. I shoved them in a … More Mason Jar Masterpiece or Mild Chaos?

Okay so I’m a huge smell person. Like, catch me in the shampoo aisle just opening caps like a maniac because aroma therapy is my love language. My little spa routine might be simple, but it’s honestly my favorite part of the day and yes, it all starts in the shower. First up: Matrix Food … More My Little Spa Routine That’s Big on Smell Good Vibes

There was this brownie. That brownie. The one that lived rent-free in my head for years. My sister used to make it. Thick, chewy, chocolatey, with this glossy, gooey, fudge-like icing on top. The kind of brownie that makes your teeth hurt but your soul sigh with happiness. And if you know my situation, you … More The Best Damn Ooey Gooey Brownies (With a Side of Bittersweet Closure)

Ah yes, the “fresh” smell of Bounce dryer sheets… brought to you by a chemical cocktail that could be giving you migraines. That clean laundry scent? It’s actually volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—a fancy way of saying toxic air pollution. One study even found over 25 hazardous air pollutants wafting off scented laundry products. (PubMed ID: … More How About a Side of Asthma or a Headache with That Bounce?

my dependable delicious pit stop when life calls for a burger that slaps. Today’s adventure? I went rogue (well, as rogue as a loyalist can get) and ordered the Great American Cookout burger. And if you’re anything like me and believe that baked beans + Ruffles = a match made in summer BBQ heaven, then … More Ah, Honest Abe’s. My tried and true, my ride or fry,